Cyprus reports significant drop in migration arrivals and plans to tighten golden visa rules

Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum Nicholas Ioannides reported a major decline in migration figures to the House Audit Committee on September 24, 2026. Irregular arrivals fell to 1,110 by late September 2026, compared to 11,920 during the same period in 2022. Additionally, new asylum applications decreased from 15,154 in 2022 to 1,135 in 2026, while pending applications dropped from 24,000 to approximately 13,000. Benefit spending has simultaneously been reduced from 49 million euros to 12 million euros. Authorities also confirmed that over 7,000 individuals have been returned to their countries of origin since the start of 2026.

In preparation for Cyprus's accession to the Schengen area, the government announced plans to tighten the "golden visa" program. Officials are currently scrutinizing approximately 12,000 permits issued since 2013 to ensure compliance with current criteria, alongside proposals to redirect future investments toward education, defense, and innovation. Meanwhile, the European Union Agency for Asylum noted that Cyprus recorded the second-highest rate of asylum applications relative to its population in the first half of 2026, describing the island as an extreme case. A new digital information system for tracking entries and exits is expected to be operational by March 2027 to further manage border security.